Regina law firm files lawsuit against Loblaw’s price-fixing

A Regina law firm is hoping to put a little extra dough into people’s wallets with a class action lawsuit against Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Merchant Law is one of the Canadian firms that has filed a lawsuit against the grocer after it admitted last month to taking part in a price-fixing scheme on bread.

Loblaws is currently offering people $25 gift cards as compensation.

“It is small, it’s pathetically small,” Lawyer Tony Merchant told the 980 CJME Morning Show. “But, in my opinion, they should take the $25 because all it is is an advance against the money that we hope to be able to get for people ultimately.”

Merchant said his firm will look at what Loblaw’s profits were from the price-fixing. He said the scheme worked in two ways: setting the price and capping the amount of bread available.

“That will create a higher demand and the cost will go up.”

Merchant said you can go to their website to sign up to be a part of the lawsuit.

“A lot of people come to me and say ‘Well, Tony do I have to show up with a receipt?’ Well obviously not”

He said compensation in the event of a successful suit would be based on the total amount determined to have been made off the price-fixing scam, rather than what specific individuals spent on overpriced bread.